Allegheny County health director, executive receive shots in covid-19 vaccine trials

Allegheny County Director of Health Dr. Debra Bogen and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald are taking part in a clinical trial for a covid-19 vaccine, both said Wednesday.

“As a pediatrician, I have great confidence in vaccines,” Bogen said during her weekly press briefing on the virus.

She said she has seen how modern childhood vaccines have saved lives.

“Based on my experience with vaccines as both a mother and a pediatrician, my experience with clinical research and my sincere hope and desire for an effective and safe vaccine against covid-19 — I volunteered to participate,” Bogen said.

She received a shot — either the potential vaccine or a placebo — Monday as part of the Moderna clinical trial. Neither she nor the person who gave her the shot know which one she received. She will receive another shot in about a month, she said. Researchers will monitor her for two years.

“Other than a sore arm, I feel great,” she said.

Fitzgerald said he received his first shot Wednesday.

“Anybody that can help out and be part of finding a cure and vaccine for this — we owe it to ourselves and we owe it to the community to be able to do that,” he said.

Researchers with UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh began seeking volunteers for the trials in July as part of what is called Operation Warp Speed — the nationwide push to develop a vaccine as quickly as possible.

“This is a chance for Pittsburgh to have an impact that’s not just local or national — it’s going to be worldwide,” Dr. Judy Martin, director of the Pittsburgh Vaccine Clinical Trials Unit at UPMC Children’s Hospital, said in July.

Martin is directing Pittsburgh’s part of the trial, which nationwide will include about 30,000 participants.

Bogen said getting an array of participants from all demographics is crucial to making sure any vaccine is effective for everyone.

“I want to be part of the solution,” she said. “And like all of you, I want to visit with my brothers and sisters. I want to resume travel, hug friends when I see them and work on and think about issues beyond covid-19.”